Velva Area Voice

Special music and survival story

1/20/11 (Thu)

Dave Anderson and Kelly Patton (originally of Stanley and Velva) will perform in concert at 6 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 23, at Oak Valley Lutheran Church, Velva. A soup and sandwich supper will be available at 5 p.m. (Kelly is the daughter of former Velva High School music instructor, Gordon Patton.)
Their music is a blend of contemporary, gospel and traditional Christian songs, often including children’s songs.
During the concert, Dave shares his personal experiences and what has become known around the world as “The Rescue Story.”
Anderson, his wife Barbara, and five fellow missionaries were plucked from the icy waters of the Bering Sea on Friday, Aug. 13, 1993. The small plane they were riding in ran out of fuel and declared an emergency approximately two miles west of the southwest corner of Sledge Island, about 13 miles off the coast and 20 miles west of Nome. At 7:31 p.m. the twin engine Piper Navaho owned by Missionary Aviation and Repair Center crashed into the water. In less than 30 seconds all passengers and the pilot were in the water. The plane sank almost immediately. The passengers were in the freezing water for about an hour before they were rescued, using empty fuel cans for floatation.